Other Open Games

Animals & Animal Gear

The gadget spec URL could not be found

The animals, mounts, and related gear in this section can be found in most large cities. Based on its location, a settlement might not have all of these animals or related gear available at a given time (as the GM deems fit).

Riding Animals

When reared from birth, the following animals can easily be ridden by Small or Medium humanoids, depending on the riding animal's size. In addition, most of these animals can be purchased already trained for combat. The animals are listed here for convenience when referencing the Ride skill, but are also listed on the Goods & Services Animals and Gear page.

Dinosaurs and Megafauna

The following animals are classified as either dinosaurs or megafauna, and garner a significantly higher price than most animals on the open market. The prices listed are for dinosaurs and megafauna that have been reared from birth in order to serve as pets or mounts. Combat-trained dinosaurs and megafauna are incredibly rare and have similarly extravagant costs (if one can even find a seller). Though not normally readily available, combat-trained dinosaurs and megafauna typically cost an amount equal to 1-1/2 × the price of the standard animal.

Aquatic Animals

Many of the following aquatic animals can be bought at seaside markets or from fisherfolk merchants out at sea. Pirates often make use of sharks, eels, and other nasty sea denizens when interrogating captured prisoners, searching for underwater traps, or retrieving sunken treasure. Some of the larger or rarer creatures, such as whales, are obviously much more difficult to find on the open market, and may only be available in seedy underground bazaars. Most aquatic animals can be trained as normal, though they are rarely sold already trained.

Dire Animals

These feral beasts are all but untamable, and are typically only sought out by violent brawlers or cruel lords, either for brutish protection or to pit against equally vicious creatures in violent animal fights. At the GM's discretion, PCs who acquire dire animals may be required to attempt wild empathy or Handle Animal checks every day to keep their pets from running away or attacking them and their allies. Dire animals are not generally suitable as mounts, though the GM may make exceptions at her discretion.

Other Animals

The following reared animals don't fit into one of the aforementioned categories, but can still be purchased by sellers who have access to them. Some may be purchased already combat-trained at the GM's discretion, and typically cost an amount equal to 1-1/2 × the price of the standard animal.

Bat

Bat, Dire Riding

Type

Price

Weight

Common

300 gp

400 lbs.

Combat trained

450 gp

250 lbs.

Considered to be the fastest non-magical transport in cavernous underground realms, dire bats are domesticated in captivity to serve as riding animals. Stables that accommodate these massive creatures are only commonly found in cities built in larger underground caverns, owing to the greater space required for training and exercise, though the outriders of some subterranean races fly them almost to the surface. These creatures require exotic saddles to ride.

Dire Bat, Riding (combat trained): These animals are used by scouts and military for war.

Cat (Common)

These Tiny animals are often kept as pets or familiars. Though small, they are excellent hunters; grain farmers usually keep cats as pest control in crop storage areas. Stray cats occupy most cities—finding a free cat should pose little challenge.

Dog

Type

Price

Weight

Guard

25 gp

25 lbs.

Lap

15 gp

5 lbs.

Riding

150 gp

50 lbs.

Most dogs fall into one of the following categories.

Guard Dog: This Small, combat-trained dog is bred for battle; breeders favor strength, a thick body, and a low center of gravity. Guard dogs are sold in most large cities and some cultures use them for sport fighting or in some armies' special infantry.

Lap Dog: These tiny dogs are commonly kept as pets. They cannot be combat trained, but can serve as noisy-but-skittish watch creatures. Lap dogs have the same statistics as foxes.

Riding Dog: This Medium dog is bred for carrying Small riders, and is combat trained. Breeders select dogs with strong backs, endurance, and loyal dispositions and train them for riding and combat before sale. Reputable breeders can be found in major cities.

Donkey or Mule

Price 8 gp; Weight 600–800 lbs.

Donkeys and mules are stolid in the face of danger, hardy, surefooted, and capable of carrying heavy loads over vast distances. Unlike a horse, a donkey or mule is willing (though not eager) to enter dungeons and other strange or threatening places. Donkeys and mules have the same statistics as ponies.

Elephant

These Huge animals are exceptionally strong and are quick learners. They are most commonly trained for labor but occasionally also for battle. Most known elephants come from the jungle. Their upkeep is exorbitant, so only the richest citizens can afford to house one.

Fox

Price 8 gp; Weight 12 lbs.

These quick and wily carnivores can be difficult to train, but often make excellent familiars. Many humanoid communities see these canines as a menace to their farming fowl, and some use dogs to track them during recreational hunts.

Hedgehog

Horse or Pony

Type

Price

Weight

Heavy

200 gp

2,000 lbs.

Heavy, combat trained

300 gp

3,000 lbs.

Light

75 gp

900 lbs

Light, combat trained

110 gp

1,200 lbs.

Pony

30 gp

800 lbs.

Pony, combat trained

45 gp

900 lbs.

This Large quadruped is used as a mount and pack animal. Horses can be trained for war but otherwise are skittish around battle. Many cultures support breeding programs and often consider their horse the best at whatever task they breed it to perform.

Heavy Horse: These horses are often used as portage animals, pulling significant loads across great distances.

Heavy Horse (Combat Trained): Heavy warhorses are bred and trained for war. They are often are outfitted with heavy barding, but fight just as fiercely even without the armor.

Light Horse: These horses can be ridden, but often serve as porters or carriage horses.

Light Horse (Combat Trained): These light warhorses are bred for war and are favored by fast and light cavalry, scouts, and daredevil knights.

Pony: These creatures are typically used for carting goods along narrow mountain trails or as steeds for young or Small riders.

Pony (Combat Trained): Ponies can be trained for war just as effectively as their larger, more mature brethren. Such steeds often serve Small riders that expect to face battle.

Mastodon

Price 2,000 gp; Weight 8 tons

These cousins to elephants are larger and more powerfully built. There is a nearly hairless version that dwells in southern climates and a woolly variety adapted to cold. More temperamental than elephants, they are used primarily as mounts.

Monkey

These tiny animals are herbivorous and can most often be found in warm forests and jungles. Monkeys can grasp and carry objects that weigh under a pound. Trained “familiar capuchins” can sometimes be purchased.

Otter

Price 20 gp; Weight 10 lbs.

These playful water mammals are either used as familiars or trained to perform tricks as pets. They are surprisingly intelligent, and have been known to use rocks as simple tools, such as for opening the shells of mollusks.

Pack Animal

Working animals, such as elephants, oxen, and yaks, are universal, but the specific kind of animal used for labor varies according to local availability. Elephants carry goods in jungles while yaks pull loads in mountainous regions. In many other parts of the world, donkeys, mules, and oxen pull carts or plows.

Yak: These shaggy-haired relatives to cows are more at home in mountainous terrain where they are frequently used as pack animals and to pull plows. Yaks have the same statistics as bison. Price 24 gp; Weight 1,000 lbs.

Pig

Price 10 gp; Weight 100–300 lbs.

Domesticated pigs are the descendants of wild boars, and are raised for their meat and hide, being among the most versatile and common farm animals.

Rabbit

Price 2 gp; Weight 3 lbs.

Rabbits are often raised or hunted for their meat and skins, though some people keep the skittish mammals as pets. Though they are often confused with hares, rabbits are distinctly different in that they make their homes in burrows beneath the ground, and they are usually smaller than hares. Rabbits have the same statistics as rats.

Raccoon

Price 5 gp; Weight 7 lbs.

These nocturnal hunter-scavengers are found primarily in forested terrains, and are noted for their domino mask-like visages, highly dexterous forepaws (which they rely on for their hyper-sensitive sense of touch), and the strangely anthropomorphic tendency to “wash” their food in water before eating it. Raccoons are sometimes kept as pets and used by some spellcasters as familiars.

Rat, Blue

Rat, Dire

Dire rats are vicious scavengers in the wild. However, dire rats raised in captivity can be trained as loyal pets and protectors. Diverse omnivores, they are found anywhere the surrounding habitat allows them to live, including dungeons and underground. Pet dire rats do not have filth fever.

Sheep

Price 20 gp; Weight 150 lbs.

These livestock animals are kept for their fur, meat, and hide, and can be found in virtually any civilized settlement. They are especially prized in colder environs, where their wool and hide can be used to make durable and highly insulated clothing. Sheep have the same statistics as goats .

Skunk

Price 10 gp; Weight 10 lbs.

These creatures are infamous for the overwhelmingly foul odor they produce to ward off predators. Skunks are sometimes kept as pets, though usually only after their scent glands have been removed. More information on skunks can be found in Bestiary 3.

Weasel

Price 2 gp; Weight 8 oz.

These Tiny animals eat smaller animals and can be found in nearly any environment. They are clever and curious, traits that are magnified when they are kept as familiars. Many varieties of weasel exude a strong musky odor. This description also applies to similar animals, such as ferrets, minks, polecats, and stoats.

Axe Beak Egg

Canary

These Diminutive birds usually have bright feathers and sing pleasantly. More pragmatically, they are also used in mines to detect bad air, as their small bodies are more sensitive to such things; the warning they provide gives humanoids a chance to escape before succumbing to the danger.

Duck

Falcon

This Tiny, long-winged hawk is a popular hunting bird for nobility. Falcons are technically a subset of hawks but are considered more “noble.” Ownership is denied to commoners in many nations with hierarchical monarchies.

Hawk

Price 18 gp; Weight 2 lbs.

This Tiny, short-winged raptor is a popular hunting bird, but is utilized more often by lower nobility than by commoners without titles. Hawks are known for their sharp eyesight and powerful aerial dives.

Owl

Price 10 gp; Weight 1–3 lbs.

These Tiny birds of prey are mainly nocturnal and are known for their keen eyes and near-silent flight. Owls eat small animals and insects, and can be found in nearly any environment. Some farmers create owl homes near fields and barns to control rodent populations. The smartest owls make excellent familiars.

Parrot

Price 50 gp; Weight 4 lbs.

These colorful and intelligent birds can be trained to mimic humanoid voices. They are often kept as pets by the wealthy and those who live in the tropical climates they favor. Parrots have the same statistics as ravens.

Reptiles and Amphibians

Gecko

Price 5 cp; Weight 2 oz.

These Tiny cold-blooded animals can be found in all warm regions and are often quite colorful. They eat insects and have the ability to walk up walls and hang upside down. Varieties of more intelligent lizards are often selected by wizards as familiars.

Gecko, Riding

Larger than even what is commonly referred to as a giant gecko, these mammoth lizards have been specifically bred to be used as mounts for the drow. Prized for their ability to run along cave ceilings and sheer walls, these creatures require exotic saddles to ride. Use the statistics for a giant gecko with the giant template.

Lizard

Price 5 cp; Weight 2 oz.

These Tiny cold-blooded animals can be found in all warm regions and are often quite colorful. They eat insects and have the ability to walk up walls and hang upside down. Varieties of more intelligent lizards are often selected by wizards as familiars.

Snake, Constrictor

Price 5 gp; Weight 60 lbs.

These Medium reptiles are found chiefly in warm climates. Somewhat aggressive, constrictors squeeze their prey to death before consuming it. Due to their size, these snakes are less popular for traveling spellcasters, but they can be quite helpful in a laboratory.

Insects, Crustaceans and Mollusks

Centipede, House

Price 1 cp; Weight 3 oz.

These creatures come in many forms, from the lighter-colored 20-legged variety to the darker 300-legged variety. Typically, these arthropods are what pass for pets in the slums, but the young and eccentric often search for the best specimens to serve as familiars. Centipedes employed as familiars have an Intelligence score and lose the mindless trait.

Octopus

Scorpion, Greensting

Price 15 gp; Weight 9 oz.

Typically found in forested areas, these Tiny scorpions sport pincers too small to be dangerous to anything larger than an insect, but they still possess a poisonous stinger. Sometimes they are kept as pets or serve as familiars. Greensting scorpions employed as familiars have an Intelligence score and lose the mindless trait.

Special Creatures

Hippogriff

This large, brown, horse-like creature has a hawk's wings, talons, and hooked beak. Hippogriffs measure 11 feet long and weigh upward of 1,500 pounds. A fully trained hippogriff mount can command prices of up to 5,000 gp or more. A hippogriff can carry 198 pounds as a light load, 399 pounds as a medium load, and 600 pounds as a heavy load.

Hippogriff Egg

Griffon (Combat Trained)

Price 8,000 gp; Weight 500 lbs.

These deadly but majestic fliers are the favored aerial cavalry of many kingdoms. While griffons can be trained, some good deities consider doing so akin to enacting slavery, insisting that a griffon must come to its rider on its own free will. The price listed is for a trained griffon; free will is bought with different currency (determined by the GM).

Pseudodragon

Price 200 gp; Weight 7 lbs.

Found primarily in temperate forests, pseudodragons are intelligent enough that some consider their sale slavery. A handful of pseudodragons offer themselves for hire to adventurers, typically for half their listed price per week of work.

Stirge

Price 20 gp; Weight 1 lb.

These Tiny beasts are allegedly sold for indoor defense to rich clients, but often wind up in exotic blood sports. Despite the popular misconception that stirges are untameable vermin, such creatures are trainable, but they must be fed fresh blood daily to dissuade them from turning on their handlers.

Stirge

These tiny beasts are allegedly sold for indoor defense to rich clients but more often wind up in exotic bloodsports. Despite popular conception, stirges are trainable, but they must be fed fresh blood daily or they turn on their handlers.

Misc. Supplies for Animals and other Creatures

Bag, Bear

These sacks each include a 20-foot-long rope, from which they may be easily suspended from a tree limb or similar anchor point. Placing foodstuffs or fragile materials in hanging sacks is often considered a basic precaution when camping in the wild, to prevent bears and other predators from rooting through the sack's contents.

Barding

Barding is a type of armor that covers the head, neck, chest, body, and possibly legs of a horse or other mount. Barding made of medium or heavy armor provides better protection than light barding, but at the expense of speed. Barding can be made of any of the armor types found on Table: Armor and Shields.

Armor for a horse (a Large non-humanoid creature) costs four times as much as human armor (a Medium humanoid creature) and also weighs twice as much (see Table: Armor for Unusual Creatures). If the barding is for a pony or other Medium mount, the cost is only double, and the weight is the same as for Medium armor worn by a humanoid. Medium or heavy barding slows a mount that wears it, as shown on the table below.

Flying mounts can't fly in medium or heavy barding.

Removing and fitting barding takes five times as long as the figures given on Table: Donning Armor. A barded animal cannot be used to carry any load other than a rider and normal saddlebags.

Barding

Movement Modifier

(40 ft)

(50 ft.)

(60 ft.)

Medium

30 ft.

35 ft.

40 ft.

Heavy

30 ft.*

35 ft.*

40 ft.*

Barding, Thorny Breastplate

This barding is covered in thick metal spikes and is designed to protect the owlbear's chest, shoulders, and neck, while leaving the limbs mostly free for moving and attacking. It provides a +5 armor bonus to AC, reduces the owlbear's speed to 20 feet, and adds +1d8 piercing damage to its grapple attacks.

Barding Stitches

This thin, specially treated wire can be used to attach barding to creatures whose body types cannot normally accommodate armor, such as piscine, serpentine, and verminous animals, by delicately and thoroughly sewing the equipment directly to the creature's flesh. Equipping a creature with barding using barding stitches takes 10 times as long as normal barding, and a successful DC 25 Heal check is required to attach or remove the stitches. The creature must be helpless or willing to be equipped with barding stitches, and must have at least a +1 natural armor bonus to AC. An armored creature with barding stitches takes a -2 penalty on Strength- and Dexterity-based skill checks (in addition to any penalties from the barding itself), Fortitude and Reflex saves, and saves against effects with the pain descriptor (these penalties stack). These penalties persist for as long as the creature is equipped with barding stitches.

Brush, Dandy

This hard-bristled tool has a handle that slips over the wearer's hand, and is used by animal breeders, owners, and grooms to brush the animals in their care, loosening dirt and detritus from the creatures' coats and stimulating the skin so it produces the natural oils that keep them healthy and clean.

Brush, Mastodon

Tribespeople in lands where megafauna and other large mammals are an important source of food and transportation craft these large, two-handed grooming tools to keep their enormous mounts and pack animals healthy and clean.

Cage

Price varies; Weight varies

This secure, portable enclosure is used to hold creatures—generally animals, but a large enough cage can hold anything. Cages are made from iron, wood, or bamboo, depending on local customs and available materials. One cage holds one animal of that size, or five animals of a smaller size. The weight of the creature adds to the weight of the cage. Cages come in the following sizes: Diminutive or Fine, Tiny, Small, Medium, Large, and Huge. Cages for aquatic creatures cost twice as much, and weigh four times the normal weight when filled with water.

Falconry Gauntlet

Price 10 gp; Weight 1 lb.

This gauntlet, made from layers of thick leather, is worn on the falconer's off hand to give a falcon a place to stand before and after a hunt. The gauntlet also has a tassel and a ring attached to the falcon's tether.

Feed, Bird

This mixture of seed and dead insects is suitable food for small birds such as ravens, crows, and chickens. Birds of prey such as falcons, hawks, and owls can also sustain themselves on bird feed, though they typically require at least two servings per day. Larger avian creatures such as axe beaks and griffons require larger portions of meat, and cannot survive on bird feed alone.

Feed, Carnivore

Consisting of various kinds of raw meat that have been jerked, smoked, or salted for preservation, a day's worth of carnivore feed is adequate food for any Small or Medium meat-eating animal such as a tiger, bear, or dog. Larger carnivores might require up to 2 to 4 days' worth of carnivore feed per day.

Harness

Price 2 gp; Weight 2 lbs.

This leather or hemp harness allows a holder to restrain and control a domesticated animal. A harness is standard equipment for anyone trying to teach an animal tricks with the Handle Animal skill. Ready-made harnesses are available in most markets for common domesticated animals such as cats, dogs, horses, and oxen, but harnesses can be made for nearly any creature.

Training Harness: This specialized harness must be tailored to a specific type of animal. A training harness provides a +2 bonus on Handle Animal checks made with an animal wearing it.

Howdah

This wooden platform is tied like a saddle to a Huge creature's back. The platform is 10 feet square and enclosed by a low wall and sometimes a roof. The howdah has room for four Medium creatures (usually armed with bows or longspears), or two Medium creatures and a light ballista or light catapult. Occupants of the howdah have cover against attackers from below and are considered mounted for the purposes of making attacks.

Incubation Stove

Designed by dwarves, this iron pot-bellied stove is about the size of a halfling. It burns wood, coal, dung, or fungus stalks, and has a large moveable compartment on the outside to hold maturing owlbear eggs. The stoves need constant attention to maintain the right temperature, else the eggs get cooked rather than incubated. Some variations have a spring- or crank-turned device that turns the eggs.

Owlbear Blinders

Used in siege warfare, these blinders restrict the owlbear's vision to directly where its head is pointing, helping to stop the owlbear from getting distracted and allowing the rider to focus its attention. This gives the rider a +2 equipment bonus to Ride checks made to control the owlbear, but gives the owlbear a –2 penalty to Perception checks.

Poison Caps

These small rubber cones attach to a creature's fangs and allow it to potentially poison those it bites. Poison caps must be filled with an injury poison, and must be attached to a creature's teeth prior to use. A creature equipped with poison caps deals bite damage as a creature one size smaller than usual, but the next time the creature makes a successful bite attack, it also injects the poison from the caps into its target. The price and weight listed above are for a pair of poison caps; both must be used simultaneously in order to be effective. A pair of poison caps can only be used once; they are effectively destroyed after a successful bite attack. The cost of the poison is not included in the cost of the poison caps.

Saddle

Price varies; Weight varies

Saddles are used to support a rider or supplies on a mount.

Military: A military-style saddle braces the rider, providing a +2 circumstance bonus on Ride checks related to staying in the saddle. If the rider is knocked unconscious while in a military saddle, he has a 75% chance to stay in the saddle.

Pack: A pack saddle holds gear and supplies, but not a rider. It holds as much gear as the mount can carry.

Riding: Riding saddles are the most pervasive type of riding equipment. If the rider is knocked unconscious while in a riding saddle, he has a 50% chance to stay in the saddle.

Exotic: Exotic saddles are custom-made for unusual mounts. Exotic saddles also come in military, pack, and riding styles, just as normal saddles do, and have the same traits.

Saddlebags

These sturdy, weatherproof bags are draped over a saddle to add extra carrying capacity. Each side of a saddlebag can typically carry 20 pounds of items that can fit in the bags. Saddlebags do not increase the amount of weight a mount can carry; they merely give riders a place to stow their equipment.

Stabling

Price 5 sp/day; Weight —

This is the amount it costs to stable a single creature that is Large or smaller for one day, at a typical stable or hostler. Particularly fancy stables may cost more, and larger or more exotic creatures cost double.

Training Kit, Bird

Training Sleeve

This thick, heavily padded sleeve fits over the wearer's arm and serves as a target for animals being trained to attack. When used in conjunction with the Handle Animal skill to train an animal for a general purpose, this item grants the user a +5 competence bonus on her Handle Animal check to successfully combat train an animal.

Training Whip

Tusk Blades

These metal caps must be specially fitted to a creature's horns or tusks; a blade reminiscent of a sword or axe head projects from each cap. If the creature makes a gore attack (including as part of a powerful charge), the attack deals both piercing and slashing damage, and has a critical threat range of 19–20 (this range can be increased by other effects). Tusk blades can be enhanced as melee weapons; the enhancement is applied to the creature's gore attack.

Whip, Enraging

This whip has small caltrops or metal barbs woven into its length and a quartet of metal whistles attached to the fall; when snapped, the whistle sounds like screaming owlbear young. An owlbear's rider uses this noise to enrage the monster, prodding it to attack the nearest creature. Anyone who attacks an owlbear with such a whip draws its attack in preference to all other targets.

Whet Bone

This hardened mixture of animal marrow and minerals is shaped into a long bone. When chewed upon by a creature for no fewer than 15 minutes, a whet bone grants the creature a +1 bonus on its next damage roll the first time it hits with a bite attack. This only works on non-magical bite attacks.